Chinmayi Sripaada Says She Was ‘Not Shocked’ At Tamil Nadu State Film Award Snub After Speaking Out

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has reacted to being excluded from the recently announced Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, saying she was not surprised by the decision. The Tamil Nadu government declared the State Film Awards for

the years 2016 to 2022, honouring achievements in cinema and television. However, Chinmayi’s absence from the list sparked disappointment among fans, especially given her widely acclaimed work during that period.

Chinmayi lent her voice to several memorable songs between 2016 and 2022, with her work in C Prem Kumar’s 96 remaining a standout. Many fans took to social media questioning why she was overlooked, prompting the singer to address the issue directly.

What Chinmayi Said

A fan on X (formerly Twitter) tagged Chinmayi and pointed out that she deserved recognition for her songs in 96. Responding candidly, Chinmayi wrote, “Not shocked :)I would have been shell shocked if they HAD given especially after naming Vairamuthu :)”.

Her response immediately drew attention, with many interpreting it as a sharp commentary on the industry’s continued discomfort with those who spoke up during India’s #MeToo movement. In 2018, Chinmayi publicly accused celebrated lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual abuse and also amplified allegations made by other women in the Tamil film music industry.

After #MeToo and Industry Pushback

Following her outspoken stance, Chinmayi faced severe professional consequences. She was removed from the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes and Dubbing Artistes Union (SICTADAU) after she supported women who had named actor Radha Ravi, then president of the dubbing artistes’ union, during the #MeToo wave.

Addressing questions about how she continued to work on films like 96 and Leo despite the ban, Chinmayi had earlier explained on X, “96 was before the Metoo broke out. Leo – I was hired despite the ban and Radha Ravi’s Union tried to find out who recorded me so that they can ban the Recording Engineer as well.”

She further elaborated on the systemic challenges faced by artists who are blacklisted, writing, “Nobody has the bandwidth to fight these battles when a film is about to release. Radha Ravi sends a diktat to all the Unions to say a person is banned so other Unions should NOT hire them as well.”

Chinmayi also revealed that she has been fighting her case for over six years, adding, “Many have gone through the same… I have been fighting my case for 6+ years. That’s how it works.”

Despite the hurdles, Chinmayi continues to receive immense public support. In 2025, she performed at the audio launch of Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, with both the song and her live performance earning widespread praise online.